Ahram Weekly

Go natural

Let’s talk about better living! Our new interactive family corner aims to expand our lifestyle horizons with practical little pearls of wisdom from the editor and input from our readers.

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Al-Ahram Weekly

Go natural

When renewing a room, don’t forget about the floors. “Flooring makes all the difference, giving any space a fresh look and style,” said Bassam Mustafa, senior sales representative at one of the leading flooring companies showcasing in the exhibition. According to Mustafa, bamboo is the flooring trend for the year. “Bamboo has been around for a long time, but the new thing here is the flare-up of different colours and styles,” he commented. Being a natural material, bamboo shares many of the benefits of a hardwood floor and is priced at almost the same level. It is ecologically friendly, easy to maintain and to some extent is more resistant to water damage, stains, and warping than hardwood materials. Mustafa added that new products called strand-woven bamboo are highly engineered using the plant’s inner fibres and are twice as hard as traditional bamboo flooring. Though bamboo floors are extremely durable, strong, and silken to walk upon, Mustafa advises that it is not used in the bathroom or laundry, as the fibres are very absorbent and can warp when exposed to high levels of moisture.

As people become more ecologically aware, they are demanding products that reflect this in decorating their homes. “Although it has a larger initial cost than wood, stone can provide substantial savings over the long term as a flooring option,” said Noha Abdel-Rahman, sales representative of the only manufacturer of eco-friendly coloured glass, stone and sand for decoration in the Middle East. With endless options in terms of colours, textures, shapes and design capabilities, especially the ability to adapt to curved surfaces, eco-friendly stone and glass are cool to work with this year, Abdel-Rahman said, adding that “inside or outside, the only thing stopping you is your imagination and budget.”

“In contrast to ceramic tiles, stone tiles are the top choice for wet environments, including bathrooms, kitchens or entry areas where slip-resistance is a necessity,” she said. Stone tiles are exceptionally durable and very receptive to passive solar heating, as they will hold and radiate heat long after the sun goes down. Being an easy to clean hygienic material, they can be used in swimming pools, spas, gyms, wellness centres or even decorating areas, she added.